Package



Nov. 1, 1955 H. v. KINDSETH 2,722,361

PACKAGE Filed Oct. 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3maentor (Ittoruegs Nov. 1, 1955 H. v. KINDSETH 2,722,361

3 nnnnn o r ,i ala yams w (Ittornegs PPPP GE Filed Oct. 26, 1950 United States Patent PACKAGE Harold V. Kindseth, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Co., Minneapolis, Mmrn, a corporation of Missouri Application October 26, 1950, Serial No. 192,226

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-9) My instant invention relates to the packaging art and, more particularly, to inexpensive packages for foodstuff and the like, which is both relatively rigid so as to retain a given shape and also has at least a transparent portion so as to make the contents of the package visible to the prospective purchaser.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a relatively rigid drawer-like container formed from opaque sheet material such as cardboard and which is adapted to be slidably received within an elongated tubular cover element formed from relatively flimsy transparent material, whereby the contents of the container are readily visible to the eye of the prospective purchaser.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel cover element having an openable outer end which permits rescaling after the drawer-like container has been partially slidably removed therefrom and therethrough.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for facilitating withdrawal of the drawerlike container through the openable and closable outer end of the cover element.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is inexpensive to produce, relatively rugged in construction, which keeps the contents sealed against dirt and dust particles in the atmosphere, and which is extremely easy to pack and unpack.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel package showing the drawer-like container being inserted into the tubular cover element;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a different position of some of the parts thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a still diflerent position of some of the parts;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings and, more specifically, to the structure of Figs. 1-3 inclusive, the numeral 1 indicates a drawer-like container having a bottom 2, upstanding side walls 3, and inner and outer end walls 4 and 5 respectively. As shown, the container 1 has an open top 6 so as to permit the contents thereof to be readily visible. The container 1 may be formed in any suitable manner and from any suitable opaque sheet material such as cardboard.

Drawer 1 is adapted to be snugly slidably received within an elongated tubular cover element 7 which, as shown, has a permanently closed inner end 8 and an openable and closable outer end 9. Cover element 7 may likewise be formed in a number of ways from suitable 2,722,361 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 transparent material such as cellophane, polyethylene, or the like. Preferably and as shown, the inner end 8 of the cover element 7 is provided with an ear 10 and the outer end wall 5 of the container 1 is provided with a finger-receiving notch or aperture 11, each of which elements 10 and 11 facilitate withdrawal of the container 1 from the cover element 7-the ear 10 being grasped between the fingers of one hand and the notch 11 receiving the finger of an opposite hand. When the desired contents are placed within the container 1, the same is slidably inserted into the cover element 7, as shown in Fig. 1, until the end wall 4 of the former is in abutting contact with the inner wall 8 of the latter. Preferably, at this point, the fit between the container and the cover element is such that the flimsy material of the latter is stretched taut so as to give a neat and attractive appearance. The outer end portion 9 of the container is then sealed in any desired manner-either by machine or manually. However, as shown, the outer end portion 9 is of suflicientlength to form cooperating flaps 12 and 13, the latter of which is adapted to overlap the former. These flaps 12 and 13 may be readily formed by use of bag-closing machines of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 1,868,686. However, for the purpose of permitting rescaling of the end portion 9, I preferably treat the under portion of the flap 13 with pressure sensitive adhesive, as indicated at 14. Preferably and as shown, this adhesive 14 is applied to the outer surface of the end-forming portion 9, on opposite sides of a central notch 15. This is important in that, when the outer end portion 9 of the cover element 7 is in the position of Fig. l, the adhesive 14 does not interfere with the sliding action of the drawer-like container 1 therethrough. On the other hand, when the cooperating flaps 12 and 13 are formed, the adhesive spots 14 appear on the bottom of the upper flap 13. As shown, the notch 15 merely facilitates placing of the finger nail under part of the flap 13, so as to separate the same from the flap 12.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the several parts are identified by the similar numbers as like parts in the structure of Figs. 1-3 inclusive, with a prime mark added. As there shown, both the longitudinally-extended side walls 3 of the container 1, as well as the side walls 16 and 16 of the cover element 7' taper from their outer ends to their inner ends to facilitate insertion of the container 1' within the cover element 7. However, when the inner end wall 4 of the container 1 is in engagement with the end wall 8' of the cover element 7, the flimsy material forming the cover element 7' will be stretched taut so as to present a neat, attractive appearance.

Having fully disclosed and described my novel invention, what I claim is:

1. An elongated rectangular member of transparent flimsy material for receiving and covering a container element, said member comprising side walls, a closed end wall and an element receiving and withdrawing opening in the opposite end, the end portions of opposed pairs of said side walls adjacent said opening defining readily openable and closable closure means for said opening, said closure means comprising opposed inner closure flaps swingable between open and closed positions and opposed outer closure flaps swingable between open and closed positions in overlapping relationship one to the other and said inner closure flaps, the outermost one of said outer flaps including an outer wall and inner laterally spaced folds, a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive anchored to the inner surface of said inner folds and engaging the other of said outer flaps to releasably adhere said one of the outer flaps to the other thereof when said flaps are moved to overlapping relationship, and a fingernail receivable notch in the free edge of said outer wall between said folds for facilitating release of the outer flaps.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said member is provided with a finger engageable pull tab externally of saidclosed end Wall.

3. In a device of the class described, a generally rectilinear open topped container element formed from relatively stifi opaque material and including bottom, side and end walls, a generally rectilinear cover element formed from transparent flimsy material and comprising opposed pairs of side walls and a permanently closed inner end, said cover element slidably receiving said container element, each of said elements being slightly longitudinally tapered from their outer end portions to their inner end portions and being of a size relative to each other, whereby said container element stretches said cover element taut when the inner end of the latter is in abutting engagement with the inner end of the former,

the outer end portions of the opposed pairs of said side walls of the cover element defining readily openable and closable closure means for said outer end, said closure means comprising opposed inner closure flaps swingable between open and closed positions and opposed outer closure flaps swingable between open and closed positions in overlapping relationship one to the other thereof and said inner closure flaps, the outermost one of said outer flaps including an outer wall and inner laterally spaced folds, a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive anchored to the inner surface of said inner folds and engaging the other of said outer flaps to releasably adhere said one of the outer flaps to the other thereof when said flaps are moved to overlapping relationship, and a fingernail receivable notch in the free edge of said outer wall between said folds for facilitating release of the outer flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 893,551 Schmidt July 14, 1908 1,815,855 Lauritano July 21, 1931 1,836,297 Vienna Dec. 15, 1931 2,012,483 Schlegel Aug. 27, 1935 2,078,467 Sterling Apr. 27, 1937 2,091,664 Walsh Aug. 31, 1937 2,115,308 Koch Apr. 26, 1938 2,337,730 Berch Dec. 28, 1943 2,338,041 King Dec. 28, 1943 2,494,446 Moore Jan. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 313,606 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1930 

